The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1887-10-29
ABOUT JOHN SWINTON.
A JOURNALIST WHO SACRIFICED
HIMSELF FOR AN IDEA.

Denying Himself the Ncccssarics of Life
that His Paper Might Go On-Appar-
emily n Strange Medley of Contratlic-
tions-Pcrsonal Anecdotes.
The much writing nbout John Swinton has
not got at the h";trt of what Kind of Il man
he Is. y great lr,l of sympathy is felt in
New York for the old man. for he has long
been the OILY real or apparent Frcnchman in
IN American skin over here. He has repre-
senied enough carnrstncss. on the one hand
and enough bounce, Oh the other, to make or
decorate II s'rikins personality--whie he has
also satisfied u demand for comedy us well u
supplied all example of intensity. There will
have to he IL day of jud d,ment to settle
whether John SwintonS communism is Il red
hot conviction or II form of cultivated cgo-
tlSn, which has become q freak or n fanu,-
ciSn. Tho matter is, however, not so import
mt as the fact that the old man was ut any
time ready to die for his fal-if death could
he inflicted i'll pro- erly dramatic manner
and, morc's the pity, has almost starved for
II. L do not desire to figure rs n 1relawny
who would lift the shroud of n dead genius to
he able To tell the world which was the club
foot that the vanity of the son of the gods
concealed i'll his life time. The reason for In
dicating the sacrifices to which John Swinton
has subjected himself for an idea is that all
instance of endurance may be shown from
which human nature may draw lcssoE
Your readers know that tho mans paper is
dead; that it died for want of support; that
its death proves that labor will not labor to
help its champions-all this 2, known.
FROM WEALTH To POVERTY.
Not known are these facts: The old man
began publishing that paper when lie lived III
mansion rcplrtc with treasures of art and
literature and with Uses which wealth hus
for all the wants and the taste. French
chef mni>tcrcd totlcepicurcnn to palates which
the hosl,itable master invited around him
Statesmen, reformrrs, beauties, mornlistS and
Mt times the princes of states and of churches
were his guests. For long months past he
has lived i'll ono room in n tenenicn; among
the slumS, hi, food not costin. 81 We X and
hot worth half that little, depicting himself
III body that the paper might gu on; earning
S"ou by magazine article on something lie
was indifferent about that he might issue
thoughts which lie was tremendously moved
about II will dine you fora sixlcnce, but if
You want me to write for YOU my terms will bo
go column; it will bring out my next
issi"," he woul,l say. An income of over
$1,000, n year and a fortune which at lens,
five figures would he needed to express, house,
furniture, horses, wines. clothes, last of ull
the lelovcd books, have gone to sustain an
idrt, aud the idea was wind.
John Swinton Ind to stop lie could starvc
! his st"nla"l, and deny his mind us long as he
could get together enough t"ray thu printer,
1 l.tf, L.. al .l...li
f"rc,l loss hut himself The theories of tho
man were visionary and destructive, but he
was tho safest conduit for thrm there wns
llo would d'nounce property without being
able 10 remove tho conviction of everybody
that he was the kn.lest odd man in the world,
II" would ronr like E'na, hut the birds would
not fly away when lie walked by them. ii.
would emit fire and slaughter, hut his wallet
would he turned inside" out to the first lcpgar
He would advocate communism md practice
II 10y londihS up Enmins with presents. New
York knew him as stage quantity whose
heart was as gentle us summer. Tho amount
| of verbal veh"nei"e that had to h. got OFT
sounded in h.m like tho demons tenpins
among, the mountains or scintiIIatcl around
and within him like the lightning of July
twilight; but the noise was only noise and the
lightning struck nothing but his porkctbook
FEW Personal. ANECDOTES.
Ire Old man was IL conservative force, II
discounted thunderbolt and did not seem to
kno" 1t. He came, rs he thought, unto his
own, md they received him not. They unto
whom he cast pearls turned and ren1cd him.
He will find harbor whence he went forth to
raise storm and encounter shipwreck.
What were you doing that afternoon OH
fInf IN.li.
when witness on the Bccchcr triuI
"Musing on the infinite" was the answer
that cam" quick rs n flash, straight as riflo
ball and hard as a rock. That cross exulnna-
ton was not continued
Did you ever TASTE thut kind of wine be-
before, Swinton" asked a. T. Stewart of
him at II dinner once in the Thrty-fourtll
street palace, us the host doled out tho least
bit OF u rare vintage.
"4cs, twice; once with Antonell and once
with Bismarck, and both times in larger
glasses" was the reply.
1t was Swinton who gravey proposed to
discuss III Madison square garden with Will
liam III. Vanderbilt the lattcr's right to his
millions to tho sheer CONSERVATION of that
man, and somewhat to his apprehension. 1t
was Swinton against whom Dcpcw "braced
himself" for the debate at the Nincicenth
Century club, and it was Swinton who at
that club spoke only such honey ed words of
the allowances which ought to be made for
rich men that Depew's prepared arguments
were kicks against nothing.
"lIe thought I'D sl.owmy teeth, but my
speech wasa sustained kiss" churllingly eX-
plains the old man. "The cnsenaker was
nowhere, he adds.
flc has learned that nntural conditions will
not bend to AID poor or rich; that in.rutitllt!c
is plant that can grow in tho slulns is well
ms on he avenue; that the confederation of
forces, the conservation of powers, the union
OF energy, skill and interests that that 20 bv
the name of corporations, syndicatcs, COM
p.:nies trusts and The like are n la.v Of the
civilization nf the time; h" has l.arncd his
lesson, but sweet, strong and hopeful IN him
yet is the indomtablc heart of Armand
Ricllelieu. New York Cor. Brooklyn Eagle
The Princes Newest Triple.
TI,o q; A..